WASHINGTON REPORT
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATIONAL BROADCASTERS
Vol. IV, No. Ill DuPont Circle Building, Washington 6, D.C. February 8, 1963
FEDERAL ETV LEGISLATION SITUATION
Congressional law-making, it is well to remember, is a two-phase procedure:
(l) the enactment of enabling legislation, and (2) appropriation of funds to carry¬
out the provisions of the legislation.
The 87th Congress passed an act providing for Federal grants of $32 million
to the states on a matching basis for construction or improvement of ETV facilities.
The 88th Congress will be asked to appropriate funds to implement the act.
Here is what has been requested:
$2 million (for balance of fiscal 1963) to provide for approximately 9 new
station grants and 3 expansion grants.
$7 million (for fiscal 1964) to provide for approximately 30 new station
grants and 18 expansion grants.
Since needs cannot be accurately predicted until applications have been
received and accepted, the ratio of grants for new stations to those for expanding
existing facilities may be altered.
The request for ETV appropriations must be presented to 4 separate committees:
the 1983 request to the Subcommittee on Deficiencies and Supplemental : of the House
(Chm. Albert Thomas, D. ) and the Senate (Chm. Spessard Holland, D., Fla.) and the
Subcommittee on Labor, Health Education and Welfare : of the House (Chm. John Fogarty,
D., R.I.) and the Senate (Chm. Lister Hill, D. , Ala.). Frank Bow (R., Ohio), who
feels that UHF 2,000 me developments obviate the need for standard broadcast
stations and, therefore. Federal ETV assistance, is still a member of the House
committee on supplemental appropriations.
HEW officials will probably be called in to hearings of these committees
beginning in mid-February. If funds are forthcoming, it is expected the program
might get under way in early March. NAEB estimates that about $20 million is now
available in state appropriations ready for matching as soon as the Federal grants
can be applied for.
MARKS * 1 COMMITTEE MOVES TO REVAMP COMMUNICATIONS ACT
A special Committee of the Federal Communications Bar Association, headed
by Leonard Marks, NAEB General Counsel, last week released a report calling for
sweeping revisions in the concept and practice of Federal regulation of broadcasting
and replacing the FCC with a new agency composed of an administrator, court, and
five-member policy-making body. Stated objectives new set-up is designed to accomplish:
(l) speedier processing of cases; (2) more orderly planning for long-range uses
of broadcasting; (3) better system of establishing criteria in issuing station grants,
and (4) surer protection against political influence upon outcome of contested cases.
The Marks' Committee report, which calls for a thorough overhaul of both
the FCC and the Communications Act under which it operates, will be given serious
study by the Congress as well as the Commission and the Industiy.
INSTRUCTIONAL BROADCASTING GROUP MEETS
On January 28th, 9 NAEB people involved in the instructional uses of TV at
various levels met in Washington to discuss (l) how this particular group within the
membership might best be organized and given appropriate representation inside
the NAEB structure and (2) whether it would be useful for NAEB to sponsor a national
conference on Instructional Broadcasting (radio, as well as TV) this Spring.
The participants, who came at their own expense in response to Pres. Harley's
invitation, endorsed the general approach of an NAEB reorganization based upon
councils representing special interest categories within the membership and recommended
that NAEB go ahead with plans to hold the conference. The week of May 13 was chosen
as the date and the group agreed to serve as a steering committee for the conference.
Those attending were: Leslie P. Greenhill, Penn State; Roy J. Johnson, University
of Miami; Robert F. Lesher, Hagerstown; Charles J. McIntyre, University of Illinois;
Dr. Bart Griffith, University of Missouri; Lt. Colonel Robert E. Wood, Air University,
Maxwell AFB; Dr. Stephen C. Hathaway, Miami of Ohio; Iynn Kalmback, ETV Center,
South Carolina; and William Ewing, Ohio State University.
BROADCAST ACTION OF FCC
By Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Commission designated for hearing
applications of Central Wisconsin Television, Inc., for additional time to construct
TV station WCWT (Channel 9), Whusau, Wis., and for assignment of CP to Midcontinent
B/cg Co. for $34,439. On its own motion the Commission made the Wisconsin Citizens'
Committee for Educational Television, Inc., which filed opposing petitions, and
Wisconsin Valley Television Corp. (WSAU-TV, Channel 7, Wausau), parties to the
proceeding. The hearing issues will determine (l) whether Central Wisconsin has
been diligent in proceeding with construction of the station, whether trafficking
is involved, and whether it has been candid in its representations to the Commission;
(2) when and under what circumstances the Citizens' Committee learned of the proposed
sale of WCWT, sought to acquire its construction permit, from whom it obtained the
necessary funds, and the amount obtained and terms and conditions thereof; and ( 3 )
full facts surrounding Wisconsin Valley agreement to donate funds to the Citizens'
Committee, whether latter had an agreement or understanding with Wisconsin Valley
to file the instant petitions, and whether Wisconsin Valley has engaged in a course
of action which constitutes an abuse of Commission's processes.
(The Citizens' Committee's original intention was to acquire the CP held
by Central Wisconsin TV Inc. and turn it over to the University of Wisconsin for
ETV.)
The initial hearing is scheduled for March 4th.
NAEB-USOE CONTRACT
The USOE announced this week a grant to the NAEB for "a pilot series of
six kits of filmed and published materials illustrating proper teacher utilization
of broadcast materials."
The project involves the preparation of six demonstration kits for use by
school and college administrators, teachers and potential teachers and are designed
to illustrate, on film and in published materials, teacher utilization of broadcast
materials in the achievement of sound educational purposes and goals. In general,
each kit will consist of a 30 minute l6mm sound film and the necessary supplementary
materials and directions to facilitate its use. Some kits will contain printed
materials which may be retained by the users.
The project director is Clair Tettemer, Director of School Programs and
Research, KTCA-TV, St. Paul/Minneapolis.
Scanned from the National Association of Educational Broadcasters Records
at the Wisconsin Historical Society as part of
"Unlocking the Airwaves: Revitalizing an Early Public and Educational Radio Collection."
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